Conservation and variation in pair-rule gene expression and function in the intermediate-germ beetle Dermestes maculatus.

ABSTRACT: A set of pair-rule (PR) segmentation genes (PRGs) promotes the formation of alternate body segments in Drosophila melanogaster Whereas Drosophila embryos are long-germ, with segments specified more or less simultaneously, most insects add segments sequentially as the germband elongates. The hide beetle Dermestes maculatus represents an intermediate between short- and long-germ development, ideal for comparative study of PRGs. We show that eight of nine Drosophila PRG orthologs are expressed in stripes in Dermestes Functional results parse these genes into three groups: Dmac-eve, -odd and -run play roles in both germband elongation and PR patterning; Dmac-slp and -prd function exclusively as complementary, c

SUBMITTER: Xiang J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5769621 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature